PHOTOGRAPHING THE LANDSCAPE WHATEVER THE WEATHER.- Blog 2

PHOTOGRAPHING IN THE RAIN.

When suggesting that one can photograph landscape in any weather conditions, I’m sure there were one or two cynics who wondered whether this also included photographing in the rain. In my opinion rain offers some of the best opportunities for landscape photography, providing you are prepared to expand your definition of “ landscape”. In common with grey skies, (something I discussed in my first blog) rain offers many varieties, each of which presents unique challenges. We can experience a gentle rain through to a full-blown deluge. When considering the latter, not only is it desirable to keep yourself dry, but also your camera. It is difficult to muster the enthusiasm once you are drenched, and on a similar tack, most DSLR cameras are vulnerable to heavy rain and can sustain serious damage if they are not adequately protected. Once however you have addressed these issues, the opportunity for taking truly wonderful landscape shots are considerable, both within an urban and rural setting.

Image 1 “Row of trees”.

Displaying rich autumnal colours, this would be a natural subject many landscape photographers might be drawn to, however having taken it in the rain an extra dimension has been added: It increases the colour saturation of the location. There are of course practical considerations one should consider when photographing in these conditions, not least making sure the lens is protected by fitting a UV filter. As these filters make very little difference to the colour of the image, they should be kept on at all times, as one way of protecting the much more valuable lens. A lens hood would also be strongly recommended. If like me you wear glasses, it is always a good idea to keep a microfiber cloth to hand, either to clean your spectacles, or to remove droplets of water from the UV filter.

Image 2 “Misty Forest”.

A feature that is sometimes not always appreciated when photographing in the rain is that it has the appearance of a light fog. Even in daytime, when it is raining the lighting often requires the use of a relatively slow shutter speed, (in this example I used a shutter speed of 1 second), therefore the movement of the rain becomes blurred. What it does create however is a pleasing sense of a tonal recession, as the middle distance appears much paler than those elements closer to the camera. This impression is exaggerated by the dramatic tonality and colour saturation of the trees nearest the camera. One of the obvious advantages of using a long lens is that they come equipped with deep lens-hoods, which helps to keep the front element dry.

Image 3. “Rain-drops on reeds”.

Those of you who are following my blogs on “The Intimate Landscape” will appreciate that interesting photographs can be taken in very modest locations. Walking through my local woods shortly after a period of rain, I noticed this small cluster of reeds festooned with droplets of water. Using a long lens set to a wide aperture I have been able to exploit the wonderful “circles of confusion” created by the droplets of water in the distance.  Shots of this nature are most easily done when you are experiencing drizzle, which is the lightest form of rain and relatively easy to work in. This was taken with the aperture set to f4.

Image 4 “The Blue Swallow Motel”

Whilst there are great opportunities for taking interesting photographs in rural settings, urban locations often offer the best opportunities, particularly when photographed at night. Wet tarmac in particular becomes more contrasty and fabulously reflective. If you can find a slightly raised vantage point, moving traffic can add further interest. Pedestrianised areas also offer rich pickings as the passing figures are so concerned about remaining dry that they are unlikely to be aware of your presence. You don’t necessarily need a torrential downpour to get a worthwhile shot in the rain. In this example there was just a light drizzle , but it was sufficient to offer a reflective surface for the gaudy neon lighting.

Image 5. “ Penarth Pier”

The combination of night-time and rain can often provide some of the best conditions for photography, particularly if there is adjacent lighting nearby. Jetties and piers can make excellent subjects to photograph, particularly if they are constructed of wood, as this tends to be resinous, (which is designed to repel water), making is much more reflective when it does rain. On this particular evening it was pouring down and quite windy. Fortunately when we were photographing this particular pier there was a kiosk half-way down where we could shelter. Initially we set my wife’s camera on a tripod and I followed her with a large umbrella, (a Fotospeed umbrella I hasten to add), ensuring that her equipment remained dry as she took her shots. We then retreated to the kiosk, reversed roles and I was able take mine. Often teamwork really can be a help.

Image 6 “Penarth Pier No 2”

It is easy to convince yourself that rain at nightfall is hugely disadvantageous for taking photographs, but nothing could be further from the truth. Had this been taken in daytime under more benign weather conditions, I would suggest it would not have appeared anything like as interesting. The combination of the dramatic reflections on the walkway, coupled with the illuminated buildings, transforms an otherwise mundane scenario into something really quite interesting. It is worth remembering that mantra, “you cannot change the weather, but you can change your location”. This is a classic example of somewhere that has benefitted from being photographed in the rain.  As I suggested in my first blog of this series, good landscape comprises three elements: location, lighting and weather.

Square format is becoming an increasingly popular option, and with that in mind Fotospeed do offer a comprehensive range of square ink-jet papers . My personal favourite is Platinum Baryta 300.